Parents invited to attend public meeting on schools review

A public meeting will be held this month to give worried parents the chance to debate the next stage of the school estates shake-up.

Perth and North Perthshire SNP MP Pete Wishart has called for talks with families who are concerned about the future of their local schools.

Primaries at Cleish, Grandtully, Logierait and Ruthvenfield, as well as Pitlochry High, are being scrutinised as part of the latest stage of the review.

The third and final phase – due to begin after summer 2019 – is expected to include schools at Balbeggie, Coupar Angus, Collace, Glendelvine, Kettins, Meigle and Stanley.

Parent councils from across the region have been invited to attend the meeting at Perth’s Royal George Hotel, George Street, on Thursday November 15 from 7pm.

Mr Wishart said he feared a “divide and conquer” approach from the local authority.

“I intend to ensure that my constituents are given the opportunity to talk to each other,” he said.

“This will afford them an opportunity for proper scrutiny of the decision makers and proposals.

“Where potential school closures are on the agenda, it is vital that the discussion is as inclusive and considered as possible.”

The Rev Hunter Farquharson, who was involved in the campaign to save St Ninian’s Primary School, and Pitlochry High parent council chairman Andy Charlton will speak at the event.

The review began in 2016, when councillors were asked to approve a set of principles to determine which schools would be scrutinised.

The study looked at any building graded C or under, as well as any school which is likely to exceed 95% of capacity in the next seven years.

Schools classed as “very remote” – including Glenlyon, Kenmore and Kinloch Rannoch – are protected from closure.